Do Not Be Shaken

Micah Simpson

Scripture

"Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God." ﻿(2 Thess 2:3-4﻿)

Observation

As all of Hawaii gathered around their televisions and radios, no one was sure if the tsunami was going to strike our islands. So as we looked at the ocean with eagerness and fear, the sign that would tell us if the wave was coming was if the water receded back into the ocean. And to our surprise, it did recede! However, it was just a small receding, and the wave did not hit our island with the force it could have.So as Paul encourages the Thessalonians in their faith, and in their perseverance, he warns them no to be deceived! Because just as many people in Hawaii fled to the hills when the water began to recede, many people in the church at that time thought that the day of the Lord had already come! And Paul has to warn them not to be deceived!Just as we looked for receding water, Paul tells the people to look for the apostasy, or to be aware of rebellion against God and the falling away from the faith, this has to come first before Christ comes back.﻿

Application

Whenever there is talk of the coming day of the Lord, especially the apostasy, there is an uneasiness that is common in the church. But what is clear is that this uneasiness should not shake us or worry us, this uneasiness should do a couple things.

Should cause us to stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught. 2 thess 2:15

Should cause us to be thankful for Gods choosing us and saving us, and we do not have our eyes set on earth, but on eternity. 2 thess 2:13,16

There will he hundred of books written, and hundreds of messages given, and hundred of people who come and try to deceive people from following Jesus Christ. But these things cannot shake us, because we have our eyes fixed on Jesus, and we are holding firm to the truth that is in Him. Even if the deceiver seems to be winning, we know that the Lord will slay with the breath of his mouth and bring to an end the one who deceives!

Prayer

Lord I pray that in these last days, that you would give your people a strength and a confidence to outlast all those who deceive and who come in deception. I pray that we would be rooted and grounded in the truth, and that we would defend the faith and be pillars and supports of the truth!

Lord I pray that we would walk daily with the Holy Spirit, trusting in him to guide us into all truth, and trusting him to keep us in you until the day you return. I pray that we would not get frantic or worried every time some new teaching arises, but that we would stay focused on you and your living word.